The Best of Anti-Aging Ingredients.

As I begin my journey into my mid-twenties, I realise I am in that weird stage of life where I can no longer slap any product on my face and go to bed with makeup on. However, I am also not at the stage where I feel I need those expensive serums that our mothers always seem to have. So, if you’re like me and hope to be an absolute MILF (or DILF), or already are one, my question is where do we even start?

Rolling in with the new year, are promises of new opportunities, new goals, and new routines — including skin care. While each year waves in some buzzy new ingredients that seem to be on everyone’s lips — and faces — there are also some staples that remain on our radar for their tried-and-true results. So let me guide you through some anti-aging ingredients that I, for one, will be keeping in my beauty arsenals for 2022 and beyond.

Vitamin C

First a foremost, Vitamin C. With its growing popularity, Vitamin C is becoming very easily accessible even to those of us who are on a tight budget. Basically, it is a powerful antioxidant, which in turn neutralizes the free radicals. Free radicals? What the heck are those?? Don’t worry, all you need to know is they cause oxidative stress to skin, which leads to premature skin aging. Vitamin C also helps with the production of collagen in skin cells, helping to support skin structure and delay signs of aging. While also keeping your skin bright.

I personally use Vitamin C in my daytime routine, however, if you’re doing this, please wear sunscreen as it is an active ingredient. While active ingredients are amazing and you see visible results, it can make you more sensitive to the sun. With great power comes great responsibility ;).

Two great Vitamin C Serums:

https://naturium.com.au/pages/vitamin-c

https://lilabeauty.com.au/products/vitamin-c-brightening-serum-30ml

Retinol

Retinol or Vitamin A, reduce fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen. They also stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which improves skin your general glow. Additional benefits include fading dark spots and softening rough patches of skin. Basically, it increases Cell turn over, so you always have baby like skin.

Now this is not an ingredient you can just slip, slop, slap on your skin. Because it is such an amazing ingredient, it takes time to build your skin up to it. Start with once a week and build from there. Every second night would be fine once your skin is used to it. Use a pea size mount at night just before moisturiser.

Paula’s choice has some great affordable Retinols and for the more bougee go for Drunk Elephant.

Hyaluronic Acid

Why is Hyaluronic acid so magical? For starters, it can bind 1000 times its weight in water! In other words, it functions as a humectant and holds water molecules onto the surface of your skin to keep it nice and hydrated. Did someone say soft, bouncing skin? It is especially great at alleviating dry/dehydrated skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and speeding up wound healing. The dryer and more dehydrated your skin is the more aged and haggard it will look. So, a hyaluronic acid serum combats that so you can keep on drinking your Friday nights and looking fabulous on Saturday morning.

My favourite is Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Serum: https://www.stylevana.com/en_AU/isntree-hyaluronic-acid-water-essence-50ml.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&sonid=35574&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=13057301894&utm_term=120902186574&utm_content=35574&device=c&gclid=CjwKCAiA8bqOBhANEiwA-sIlN30riksYenACWIQaf9mYgo3Em8-FVe_3otLr_GEo0RhuNLI8XuvTGBoCc14QAvD_BwE

Ceramides

The outermost layer of your skin is known as the skin barrier, and its primary role is keeping the good stuff (hydration) in and all the bad stuff (irritants) out. Ceramides help maintain this barrier and keep it strong and healthy. In terms of anti-aging, the more hydrated your skin is, the more youthful it will look. Because ceramides are great for helping keep irritants out, it is great for eczema and dry skin. And since ceramides have basically no drawbacks, they're an effective ingredient for any skin type.

Glycolic Acid and other acids

Part of a group of exfoliating acids, like BHA and AHA, Glycolic acid penetrates deepest into the skin. Any of these acids gently dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells to improve skin texture, tone, and pore size. But glycolic acid also boosts levels of both collagen and elastin in the skin. Helping ward off wrinkles! The caveat? Glycolic acid can be irritating for some people, especially those with super sensitive skin or when used in high concentrations, so start using it gradually in order to give your skin enough time to get used to it (like with any active ingredient). Otherwise, AHA is good for many skin types too, while BHA is especially good for pore and acne prone skin.

Sunscreen

We know, this technically is a product and not an ingredient, but stay with me here. If you're not using sunscreen religiously, there's just no point in wasting your time or money on any other anti-aging ingredients. It's a certifiable fact that sun exposure is one of the primary causes of all the signs of aging, from spots to wrinkles and everything in between. That makes adequate, daily sun protection a MUST, which is exactly why sunscreen is on this list.

The recommended daily value is SPF 30. You can find both mineral and chemical broad-spectrum sunscreens; the former work by sitting on top of the skin and deflecting the sun's rays, the latter absorb into the skin to prevent the rays from damaging the cells. It's a matter of personal preference, though mineral options are less likely to irritate sensitive skin. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, two of the most commonly used mineral sunscreen ingredients, have been found to be both safe and effective.

One to skip: Collagen

Collagen is one of the most important proteins in your skin, the foundation for keeping it strong and firm, like the box spring underneath a mattress. The problem is that our natural collagen production slows down as we age, and adding insult to injury, all kinds of external factors (ahem, sun exposure) also contribute to the breakdown of collagen.

While it makes sense that collagen would be a great anti-aging ingredient, it's not quite so simple. Topically, it's not an active that can make a big difference, largely due to the fact that it's a big molecule that is challenging for the skin to absorb. You may also have seen lots of ingestible collagen lately; various pills and powders, however, it's difficult for oral collagen to make it to the level in the skin where it would make a difference. The bottom line: Take this collagen craze with a grain of salt.

This is where I leave you on this anti-aging journey, I wish you luck on your MILF/DILF dreams xx